Dutch Innovation Policy Evolves Beyond Top Sectors Program
Amsterdam, Tuesday, 30 September 2025.
The Netherlands will end its top sectors program in 2026, but innovation policies will continue, focusing on collaboration and sustainability, ensuring the country’s competitive edge remains intact.
Transition to New Innovation Framework
As of January 1, 2026, the Netherlands will officially conclude its top sectors program, which has been a cornerstone of the country’s innovation strategy. The program aimed to enhance innovation across key industries by fostering collaboration among businesses, government, and knowledge institutions through a ‘triple helix’ approach. This method facilitated targeted innovation by aligning the efforts of these three sectors to address societal challenges and increase sectoral earning capacity [1].
Focus on Collaboration and Sustainability
Despite the end of the top sectors program, the Dutch government will continue to emphasize innovation policies, particularly focusing on collaboration and sustainability. Dirk Duijzer, a notable figure in the top sectors, has indicated that the new framework will enable increased collaboration among different sectors, potentially leading to innovative solutions for societal issues. The continuation of public-private partnerships (PPS) will ensure that the synergy between businesses, knowledge institutions, and the government remains strong [1][2].
New Organizational Structure
The transition will see the dissolution of current top teams, which were pivotal in the triple helix approach. Instead, thematic teams drawn from relevant ministries will take charge. For the agrifood sector, the Ministry of Agriculture, Nature and Food Quality will lead the Agriculture, Water, Food theme team, maintaining collaboration with the business community and knowledge institutions. This new structure aims to streamline strategic efforts and enhance the impact of innovation policies [1][3].
Continued Opportunities for Innovation
Jaap Bond, former figurehead of the Topsector Tuinbouw en Uitgangsmaterialen, assures that the public-private collaboration, a key component of the innovation policy, will persist. The execution of innovation policies remains with the Top Consortia for Knowledge and Innovation (TKIs), ensuring that the networks built over the years continue to foster innovation. This continuity is crucial for sectors like agrifood, which benefit from a robust framework to develop resilient and sustainable systems [2][3].